Tuesday 25th August/...Batman: Arkham Asylum™, co-published in North America by Eidos Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, will be available from Friday for the PLAYSTATION®3 Computer Entertainment System and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Developed by Rocksteady Studios and based on DC Comics’ Batman license, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players diverse gameplay that pushes the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games and exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure taking them to the depths of Arkham Asylum. The Games for Windows® LIVE version of the game will be available on September 18, 2009.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, BATMAN finds himself trapped inside the confines of Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, ARKHAM ASYLUM. THE JOKER has set a trap for the DARK KNIGHT and has conspired with the deranged inmates to eliminate Batman once and for all. Adding to the authenticity of the game are veteran animated Batman voice talents Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, who reprise their roles as The Joker and Batman respectively.

“This has been an immense collaborative effort and we’re extremely proud of Batman: Arkham Asylum,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager, Eidos Game Studios.“From the reactions we have already received, we truly believe it will not only stand out as one of the games of the year but establish itself as one of those rare action adventure games you simply cannot forget.”

“Batman is one of the most recognizable and iconic characters around the world and with the high quality launch of Batman: Arkham Asylum we are establishing the brand as a triple-A franchise,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.“We are extremely proud of Batman: Arkham Asylum and consider it critical in developing and growing our key franchises.”

“The team at Rocksteady has poured an immense amount of love and effort into developing a game that Batman fans and gamers will enjoy,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios.“We’re very proud of Batman: Arkham Asylum. We are excited about the incredible response from the press and even more excited that everyone will now finally get their chance to play the game.”

Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story by Paul Dini, Batman author and five-time Emmy Award winner whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. Gamers will move in the shadows, instill fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City's most notorious villains, including HARLEY QUINN, BANE, KILLER CROC, POISON IVY, and SCARECROW, who have taken over the asylum.

Owners of the PLAYSTATION3 version of Batman: Arkham Asylum will be able to take control of The Joker in eight Challenge Maps as he battles wave after wave of enemy do-gooders. The Joker Challenge Maps will be available from launch as free downloadable content through the PlayStation®Network. In addition, the PLAYSTATION3 version of the game unlocks the Batman: Arkham Asylum Batcave Outpost in PlayStation®Home, an exclusive personal space available to those who purchase the game for PLAYSTATION3. The Batcave Outpost comes complete with the BATMOBILE, BATWING, and tons of other great features, allowing fans to call the BATCAVE their own home within Home.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is rated“BBFC 15” and available for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION3 for the suggested retail price of£49.99. It will also be available for Games for Windows at retail outlets for the suggested retail price of£34.99 on September 18, 2009. For more information, please visit www.batmanarkhamasylum.com.

About DC Comics

DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN and the SANDMAN. These DC SUPER HEROES and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

About Eidos Interactive Ltd.

Eidos is the creator of some of the world's leading videogame properties, consisting of several development studios including Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, Beautiful Game Studios, Eidos Game Studios, Eidos Hungary and Eidos Montreal, plus sales and distribution offices in Europe and the US. The Group has a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: Tomb Raider™, Hitman™, Deus Ex™, Championship Manager™ and Just Cause™. Eidos is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

Just Cause, Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, Hitman, Championship Manager, Eidos and the Eidos Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Eidos Interactive Ltd. All rights reserved. SQUARE ENIX is a trademark or a registered trademark of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other territories. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Games Press is the leading online resource for games journalists. Used daily by magazines, newspapers, TV, radio, online media and retailers worldwide, it offers a vast, constantly updated archive of press releases and assets, and is the simplest and most cost-effective way for PR professionals to reach the widest possible audience. Registration for the site and the Games Press email digest is available, to the trade only, at www.gamespress.com.

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Sign up to receive MCV's email news updates and access to other online products and services.

MCV is the leading trade news and community site for all professionals working within the UK and international video games market. It reaches everyone from store manager to CEO, covering the entire industry. MCV is published by NewBay Media, which specialises in entertainment, leisure and technology markets.